The Godly Man's Picture

There is a River in Spain, where the fish seem to be of a golden colour, but take them out of the water, and they are like other fish: All is not gold that glisters; there are some pretend much kindness, but they are like great veins which have little blood; if you lean upon them, they are as a Leg out of joint: For my part I much question his truth towards God, that will flatter and lie to his friend, Pro. 10. 18. He that hideth hatred with lying lips is a fool. By all that hath been said, we may try whether we have this note of a godly man, to be sincere.

There is a River in Spain, where the fish seem to be of a golden colour, but take them out of the water, and they are like other fish: All is not gold that glisters; there are some pretend much kindness, but they are like great veins which have little bloud; if you lean upon them, they are as a Leg out of joynt: For my part I much question his truth towards God, that will flatter and lie to his friend, Pro. 10. 18. He that hideth hatred with lying lips is a fool. By all that hath been said, we may try whether we have this note of a godly man, to be sincere.

Sincerity (as I conceive) is not properly • grace, but rather the ingredient into every grace: Sincerity is that which doth qualify grace, and without which grace is not true, ⟨p. 135⟩Eph. 6. ult. Grace be with them, which love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity: Sincerity qualifies our love; sincerity is to grace, as the blood and spirits are to the body; there can be no life without the blood, so no grace without sincerity.

Sincerity (as I conceive) is not properly • grace, but rather the ingredient into every grace: Sincerity is that which doth qualifie grace, and without which grace is not true,